Infantile Colic
The most popular, and most known reason for children to visit a chiropractor is for infantile colic. Recent studies in Denmark and here in South Africa, comparing chiropractic to drug treatment show that there is a significant improvement (up to 90% of all cases) in chiropractic groups, on a two weeks regime. While colic is blamed on too much gas in the intestines, dietary problems, and birth trauma, the precise cause is not known today. Mainstream treatment for colic currently revolves around pharmacotherapy (buscopan, colic drops etc), formulae changing and baby positioning techniques, but now chiropractic is becoming a popular colic choice.
Definition of Colic
The definition of colic is an unexplainable and uncontrollable crying in children from 0-3 months of age, for more than three hours a day, three times a week and for more than three weeks — usually in the afternoon and evening hours.
Chiropractic for Babies Video
In the following video yo can watch a New Zealand chiropractor, Dr Doug Blackbourne, discus chiropractic for babies and children. You can see how a chiropractor explains paediatric spinal manipulative therapy.
Chiropractor for Baby
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The first visit to a chiropractor initially involves talking about different aspects of the child's life, from pre-natal, labour and delivery, to post-natal and beyond.
A chiropractic examination firstly checks for normal developmental milestones, including a check of the nervous system. The chiropractor then focuses on chiropractic 'motion palpation', the feeling for small restrictions in the movements of the spinal joints that may cause irritation to both the nervous system and surrounding muscles.
Specific chiropractic treatment uses very gentle spinal manipulative techniques and mobilizations, tailored to the age of the child, to help relax stiff/irritated joints and may subsequently stimulate the nervous and immune systems with movement. Advice may also be given on feeding positioning, how to carry your child and exercises to aid your child's development. A typical treatment regime lasts 4-6 treatment sessions, taking place every other day, although this varies according to the condition involved and at the chiropractor’s discretion. By relaxing the stiff and irritated joints in the spine, the extra stimulus that may be causing the child to cry and be irritable is decreased and the child can begin to feel more comfortable, with a healthy nervous and immune system that is running efficiently and effectively - helping your child feel happier and more content!
Chiropractic treatment of children is not a ’scary‘ ordeal. Your child has a lot more motion in their spine than we do as adults, due to the initial lack of spinal curves which cause the restriction in motion in adults. Therefore ’adjusting‘ may look like we are moving their bodies further than they should go - but treatment remains within the normal motions of the child's spine.
Still Worried?
Read some of our children testimonials written by parents of our past paediatric patients.
But it is not only colic that chiropractic may help children with, others include:
- Chronic ear infections,
- Constipation,
- Sleeping difficulties,
- Growing pains,
- Bed wetting (enuresis),
- Headaches,
- Torticollis (stiff neck),
- ’Clicky‘ joints.
Dr Samantha Westbury has a special interest in the treatment of children of all ages. If you have any further questions feel free to e-mail her on drsam[AT]chiroclinic[DOT]co[DOT]za
Read Dr Sam's health blog on children & pregnancy health matters at pregnancyandchildren.blogspot.com
So if you suspect your baby has colic because they are crying all the time and wont settle at night even after feeding then consider seeing your local chiropractor who treats children. You don't have to suffer from your babies excessive crying there are treatments available to help you through a babies colic time.